How far is Daly City, CA from San Mateo, CA?
The driving distance from Daly City, CA to San Mateo, CA is about 16.5 miles (26.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 22m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 12.4 miles (19.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 45m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 00h 22m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
A city in San Mateo County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Areas Of Fog then Mostly Sunny
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Daly City and San Mateo.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Daly City and San Mateo.
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1
Start on Hillcrest Drive
569 ft · 35 sec · Hillcrest Drive
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2
Turn left onto Santa Barbara Avenue
120 m · 20 sec · Santa Barbara Avenue
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3
Turn right onto John Daly Boulevard
2765 ft · 59 sec · John Daly Boulevard
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4
Take the ramp slight left toward I 280 South, CA 1: San Jose
1949 ft · 50 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Junipero Serra Freeway
1.3 mi · 1 min · Junipero Serra Freeway
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6
Keep slight left to continue on Junipero Serra Freeway
4.2 mi · 5 min · Junipero Serra Freeway
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7
Take the exit slight right toward I 380: San Francisco International Airport
1.4 mi · 2 min
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8
Take the exit slight right toward US 101 South: San Jose, San Francisco International Airport
1.3 km · 2 min
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9
Keep slight left to continue on US 101 South: San Jose
1952 ft · 48 sec
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10
Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway
6.3 mi · 7 min · Bayshore Freeway
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11
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown San Mateo, 3rd Avenue
141 m · 13 sec
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12
Keep slight right to continue on 3rd Avenue West, Downtown San Mateo
107 m · 9 sec
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13
Keep slight left to continue on 3rd Avenue West, Downtown San Mateo
158 m · 19 sec
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14
Turn straight onto East 3rd Avenue
1408 ft · 33 sec · East 3rd Avenue
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15
Turn left onto South Delaware Street
114 m · 12 sec · South Delaware Street
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16
Turn right onto East 4th Avenue
2266 ft · 51 sec · East 4th Avenue
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17
Turn right onto South El Camino Real
82 m · 7 sec · South El Camino Real
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18
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South El Camino Real
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Daly City and San Mateo.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
Bayshore Freeway
Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway
6.26 mi · 00h 07m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A short regional drive
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
Areas Of Fog then Mostly Sunny leaving Daly City and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near San Mateo.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Daly City to San Mateo?
The road trip is about 16.5 miles (26.6 km) and usually takes 00h 22m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
What is the halfway point on this route?
San Bruno is a useful midpoint, sitting about 8.3 miles from Daly City and 8.3 miles from San Mateo.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 12.4 miles (19.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.1 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:44 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.35 one way or $6.69 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Areas Of Fog then Mostly Sunny around Daly City and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near San Mateo.
Stop Ideas Near San Bruno
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
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Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to San Bruno.
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Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Daly City and San Mateo. Straight-line distance: 12.37 mi (19.91 km).
#1 Daly City
The most populous city in San Mateo County, California.
| Population | 106,280 |
| Coordinates | 37.7057700, -122.4619200 |
| Altitude | 124 |
| Country | United States |
#2 San Mateo
The second most populous city in San Mateo County, California.
| Population | 102,398 |
| Coordinates | 37.5629900, -122.3255300 |
| Altitude | 13 |
| Country | United States |
End: San Mateo (-122.32553, 37.56299)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 27 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 32m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 24m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 19m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 16m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 14m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 12m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $3.35 | $6.69 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $3.52 | $7.04 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $3.62 | $7.24 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $4.39 | $8.78 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in California · May 02, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.